Contoured Bag Strap

ABSTRACT

A shoulder strap for carrying a bag such as a golf bag consists of a central portion formed into a substantially V-shaped shoulder pad with end portions formed into substantially inverted V-shaped panels. The ergonomic shape of the multiple V-shaped shoulder pad moves the line of action of the shoulder strap closer to the center line of a person&#39;s body. The shoulder pad may also include a plurality of elongate bearing pads that vary in height to accommodate the slope of a person&#39;s shoulder for greater comfort.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates in general to sport and utility bags and, inparticular, to shoulder straps for carrying sport and utility bags suchas golf bags.

Participants in the sport of golf often use golf bags to carry golfclubs, golf balls, tees and other equipment on the golf course.So-called cart bags are large, heavy bags designed to carry a full setof golf clubs plus accessories and even refreshments. As the nameimplies, cart bags are intended to ride on a golf cart rather than beingcarried from hole to hole. So-called carry bags, on the other hand, arerelatively lightweight to facilitate the golfer carrying the bag and itscontents for the entire round of golf. In spite of this, a fully loadedcarry bag can still weigh twenty to thirty pounds or more. Consequently,a golf bag with an ergonomically designed strap would be of benefit.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of agolf bag strap incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf bag strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf bag strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the golf bag strap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the golf bag strap of FIG. 3 takenalong line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the golf bag strap of FIG. 4 takenalong line 6-6; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the golf bag strap of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a shoulder strap 10incorporating features of the present invention in position on theshoulder of a person. Shoulder strap 10 comprises a shoulder pad 12attached at its respective ends 14, 16 to a pair of straps 18, 20 whichin turn are attached to a golf bag 22. Golf bag 22 may be of any knowntype but preferably comprises a carry bag, and the straps 18, 20 may beof any known material and construction, e.g., synthetic webbingconventionally used in golf bag straps.

Throughout the description and the claims, the terms “upper” and “lower”are used with reference to the vertically upward and vertically downwarddirections of shoulder strap 10 in use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Theterm “inner” means in a direction adjacent the user's neck and the term“outer” means in a direction adjacent the user's arm. These terms areused as a matter of convenience to establish a frame of reference fordescribing the relative positions of the various components of theillustrative embodiment of the shoulder strap disclosed herein and arenot intended to be limiting.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are top and bottom views of theshoulder strap 10 of FIG. 1, shoulder strap 10 includes the shoulder pad12 which has a flexible backing member 24 consisting of a centralportion 26, a first end portion 28, and a second end portion 30. Centralportion 26 is formed substantially in the shape of a “V” with a firstarm 32 having a longitudinal axis 34 that diverges at an obtuse anglefrom a longitudinal axis 38 of second arm 40 with both axes 34, 38meeting at a central vertex 36. The first and second arms 32, 40 ofcentral portion 26 have inner edges 42 and 44 that form a substantiallycontinuous concave inner edge. The outer edges 46 and 48 of first andsecond arms 32, 40 slope gradually towards each other then stop abruptlyat apexes 50 and 52 which are separated by a shoulder bone cutout 54comprising a substantially concave outward edge.

First end portion 28 has a longitudinal axis 56 that diverges fromlongitudinal axis 34 of first arm 32 at an obtuse angle. Similarly,second end portion 30 has a longitudinal axis 58 that diverges fromlongitudinal axis 38 of second arm 40 at an obtuse angle. First endportion 28 and first arm 32 form a panel having a generally inverted “V”profile. Similarly, second end portion 30 and second arm 40 form a panelhaving a generally inverted V-shaped profile. These inverted V-shapedprofiles complement the generally upright V-shaped profile of centralportion 26. This ergonomic shape shifts the line of action F1 of the bagstraps 18, 20 closer to the center line C of a person's body for greatercomfort. With a conventional shoulder pad, the straps 18, would have aline of action F2.

Outer edges 60 and 62 of first and second end portions 28, 30 blendsmoothly into the generally concave outer edge of first and second arms32, 40. The inner edge 64 of first end portion 28 converges with theinner edge 42 of first arm 32 to form an apex 66 separating inner edge64 of first end portion 28 from the substantially continuous concaveinner edge formed by inner edges 42 and 44. Similarly, the inner edge 68of second end portion 30 converges with inner edge 44 of second arm 40at an apex 70, which separates inner edge 68 from the continuous concaveinner edge formed by inner edges 42 and 44. Since flexible backingmember 24 is intended to support the weight of the bag 22, it istherefore preferably made of a high-strength fabric, such as ballisticnylon, aramid or similar high-strength fabrics and is preferably ofmulti-layer construction enabling flexible backing member 24 to bestitched to bag straps 18 and 20 while concealing the terminus of bagstraps 18 and 20.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3-5, shoulder strap pad 12 includes aplurality of elongate bearing pads 72, 74, 76 stitched to flexiblebacking member 24 and arranged generally parallel to the longitudinalaxis 78 of shoulder strap 12. Elongate bearing pad 72 is bent slightlyconcave inward while elongate bearing pad 76 is bent slightly concaveoutward, thus the convex surfaces of elongate bearing pad 72 and 76 arefacing each other. Elongate bearing pad 74 is essentially straight. Asshown in FIG. 5, elongate bearing pads 72, 74 and 76 each have athickness “t₁,” “t₂” and “t₃,” respectively. The thickness t₁ is greaterthan the thickness t₂ and the thickness t₂ is greater than the thicknesst₃. All of the thicknesses, t₁, t₂ and t₃, are greater than thethickness “w” of flexible backing member 24 and therefore stand proud of(i.e. extend beyond) both the top surface 78 and the bottom surface 80of flexible backing member 24.

Preferably elongate bearing pads 72, 74 and 76 are formed of a mediumdensity polyurethane elastomer, but may be formed of any suitablyresistant elastomeric material. The tapered and curved arrangement ofbearing members 72, 74 and 76 allows the shoulder strap pad 12 to takeup the user's shoulder slope and prevent the shoulder strap 10 fromsliding off the user's shoulder, while the shoulder cutout 54 preventsthe shoulder pad 12 from pressing against the top of the user'sshoulder. Slots 82 and 84 formed in flexible backing member 24 allowelongate bearing pads 72, 74 and 76 to flex independently, thus allowingshoulder strap pad 12 to conform to the movements of a person.

Chest and back pads 86 and 88 are attached to the bottom surface 80 offlexible backing member 24 and space flexible backing member 24 awayfrom the person's chest and back. The chest and back pads 86, 88 reducechafing of the shoulder pad 12 against the person, help secure theshoulder pad 12 by fixing the two points to keep the strap 10 fromsliding horizontally off the person's shoulder and allow an air spacebetween the strap 10 and the person's body for cooler comfort.Preferably chest pad 86 and back pad 88 are formed of a low durometerclosed-cell polyurethane or similar material used for soft padding, andare generally rectangular in shape with a large central recess 90 foradded comfort.

With reference to FIG. 7, in an alternative embodiment, elongate bearingpad 72 is stitched to flexible backing member 24 so that it is intension while elongate bearing pad 76 is stitched to flexible backingmember 24 so that it is in compression. This arrangement causes elongatebearing pad 76 to bow upward. This causes central portion 26 of shoulderpad 12 to assume a roughly conical shape more nearly matched to theslope of the user's shoulder.

Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have beendisclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure tothose skilled in the art that variations in modifications of suchembodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. For example, although the illustrationembodiment includes three elongate bearing pad members, more or lessthan three bearing pad members are considered within the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should belimited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rulesand principles of applicable law.

1. A shoulder strap for carrying a bag comprising: a shoulder padincluding a flexible backing member having a first end portion, a secondend portion and a central portion disposed between said first and secondend portions, said central portion being adapted to conform to aperson's shoulders, said central portion having a top surface, a bottomsurface and a thickness; a first elongate bearing pad having a lengthdimension and a thickness greater than the thickness of the centralportion of said flexible backing member, said first elongate bearing padbeing attached to the central portion of said flexible backing memberalong a longitudinal direction, said first elongate bearing pad standingproud of the top surface and the bottom surface of the central portionof said flexible backing member; and a second elongate bearing padhaving a length dimension and a thickness greater than the thickness ofthe central portion of said flexible backing member, said secondelongate bearing pad being attached to the central portion of saidflexible backing member substantially parallel to said first elongatebearing pad, said second elongate bearing pad also standing proud of thetop surface and the bottom surface of the central portion of saidflexible backing member, the length dimension of said first elongatebearing pad being greater than the length dimension of said secondelongate bearing pad and the thickness dimension of said first elongatebearing pad also being greater than the thickness dimension of saidsecond elongate bearing pad.
 2. The shoulder strap of claim 1, whereinsaid shoulder pad further comprises a plurality of longitudinal slotsformed in the central portion of said flexible backing member proximalsaid first and second elongate bearing pads.
 3. The shoulder strap ofclaim 2, wherein said plurality of longitudinal slots are disposedbetween said first and second elongate bearing pads.
 4. The shoulderstrap of claim 1, wherein said first and second elongate bearing padsare attached to said flexible backing member so that said first elongatebearing pad is in tension and said second elongate bearing pad is incompression.
 5. The shoulder strap of claim 1, further comprising athird elongate bearing pad having a length dimension and a thicknessgreater than the thickness of the central portion of said flexiblebacking member, said third elongate bearing pad being attached to thecentral portion of said flexible backing between and being arrangedsubstantially parallel to said first and second elongate bearing pads,said third elongate bearing pad also standing proud of the top surfaceand the bottom surface of the central portion of said flexible backingmember, the length dimension of said third elongate bearing pad beingintermediate the length dimensions of said first and second elongatebearing pads and the thickness dimension of said third elongate bearingpad being intermediate the thickness dimensions of said first and secondelongate bearing pads.
 6. The shoulder strap of claim 1, furthercomprising: a chest pad attached to the bottom surface of the centralportion of said flexible backing member proximal the first end portionof said flexible backing member; and a back pad attached to the bottomsurface of the central portion of said flexible backing member proximalthe second end portion of said flexible backing member.
 7. The shoulderstrap of claim 1, wherein said first and second elongate bearing padsare arcuate in shape with the proximal edges of said first and secondelongate bearing pads being convex facing toward each other and thedistal edges of said first and second elongate bearing pads beingconcave facing away from each other.
 8. The shoulder strap of claim 1,wherein the central portion of said flexible backing member comprises asubstantially V-shaped panel having first and second arms each having alongitudinal axis with the longitudinal axes of said first and secondarms diverging from a central apex at an obtuse angle.
 9. The shoulderstrap of claim 8, wherein said first and second arms have inner edgesthat form a substantially continuous concave inner edge.
 10. Theshoulder strap of claim 8, wherein said first and second arms each havean outer edge that includes an apex, the apex of said first arm beingseparated from the apex of said second arm by a substantially concaveouter edge.
 11. The shoulder strap of claim 8, wherein said first endportion and said first arm comprise a substantially V-shaped panelwherein said first end portion diverges from said first arm portion atan obtuse angle.
 12. The shoulder strap of claim 11, wherein said secondend portion and said second arm comprise a substantially V-shaped panelwherein said second end portion diverges from said second arm portion atan obtuse angle.
 13. A shoulder strap for carrying a bag comprising: ashoulder pad including a flexible backing member having a first endportion, a second end portion and a central portion disposed betweensaid first and second end portions, said central portion having a topsurface, a bottom surface and a thickness, said central portion furtherincluding a substantially V-shaped panel having first and second armshaving longitudinal axes diverging from a central apex at an obtuseangle, said first and second arms having inner edges that form asubstantially continuous concave inner edge, said first and second armsfurther having outer edges each including an apex, the apex of saidfirst arm being separated from the apex of said second arm by asubstantially concave outer edge forming a shoulder bone cutout; saidfirst end portion and said first arm also comprising a substantiallyV-shaped panel wherein a longitudinal axis of said first end portiondiverges from the longitudinal axis of said first arm at an obtuseangle, said first end portion having an inner edge that meets the inneredge of said first arm at an apex adjacent a first end of saidsubstantially continuous concave inner edge; and said second end portionand second arm also comprising a substantially V-shaped panel whereinsaid a longitudinal axis of said second end portion diverges from thelongitudinal axis of said second arm at an obtuse angle, said second endportion having an inner edge that meets the inner edge of said secondarm at an apex adjacent a second end of said substantially continuousconcave inner edge.
 14. The shoulder strap of claim 13, furthercomprising: a first elongate bearing pad having a length dimension and athickness greater than the thickness of the central portion of saidflexible backing member, said first elongate bearing pad being attachedto the central portion of said flexible backing member along alongitudinal direction, said first elongate bearing pad standing proudof the top surface and the bottom surface of the central portion of saidflexible backing member; and a second elongate bearing pad having alength dimension and a thickness greater than the thickness of thecentral portion of said flexible backing member, said second elongatebearing pad being attached to the central portion of said flexiblebacking member substantially parallel to said first elongate bearingpad, said second elongate bearing pad also standing proud of the topsurface and the bottom surface of the central portion of said flexiblebacking member, the length dimension of said first elongate bearing padbeing greater than the length dimension of said second elongate bearingpad, the thickness dimension of said first elongate bearing pad alsobeing greater than the thickness dimension of said second elongatebearing pad.
 15. The shoulder strap of claim 14, wherein said shoulderpad further comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots formed in thecentral portion of said flexible backing member proximal said first andsecond elongate bearing pads.
 16. The shoulder strap of claim 15,wherein said plurality of longitudinal slots are disposed between saidfirst and second elongate bearing pads.
 17. The shoulder strap of claim14, wherein said first and second elongate bearing pads are attached tosaid flexible backing member so that said first elongate bearing pad isin tension and said second elongate bearing pad is in compression. 18.The shoulder strap of claim 15, wherein said first and second elongatebearing pads are attached to said flexible backing member so that saidfirst elongate bearing pad member is in tension and said second elongatebearing pad member is in compression.
 19. The shoulder strap of claim13, further comprising: a chest pad attached to the bottom surface ofthe central portion of said flexible backing member proximal the firstend portion of said flexible backing member; and a back pad attached tothe bottom surface of the central portion of said flexible backingmember proximal the second end portion of said flexible backing member.20. A shoulder strap for carrying a bag comprising: a shoulder padincluding a flexible backing member having a first end portion, a secondend portion and a central portion disposed between said first and secondend portions, said central portion being adapted to conform to aperson's shoulders, said central portion having a top surface, a bottomsurface and a thickness, said central portion comprising a substantiallyV-shaped panel having first and second arms diverging from a centralpoint at an obtuse angle, said first and second arms having inner edgesthat form a substantially continuous concave inner edge and said firstand second arms further having outer edges each including an apex, theapex of said first arm being separated from the apex of said second armby a substantially concave outer edge; a first elongate bearing padhaving a length dimension and a thickness greater than the thickness ofthe central portion of said flexible backing member, said first elongatebearing pad being attached to the central portion of said flexiblebacking member along a longitudinal direction, said first elongatebearing pad standing proud of the top surface and the bottom surface ofthe central portion of said flexible backing member; a second elongatebearing pad having a length dimension and a thickness greater than thethickness of the central portion of said flexible backing member, saidsecond elongate bearing pad being attached to the central portion ofsaid flexible backing member substantially parallel to said firstelongate bearing pad, said second elongate bearing pad also standingproud of the top surface and the bottom surface of the central portionof said flexible backing member, the length dimension of said firstelongate bearing pad being greater than the length dimension of saidsecond elongate bearing pad, the thickness dimension of said firstelongate bearing pad also being greater than the thickness dimension ofsaid second elongate bearing pad; and a third elongate bearing padhaving a length dimension and a thickness greater than the thickness ofsaid flexible backing member, said third elongate bearing pad beingattached to the central portion of said flexible backing between andsubstantially parallel to said first and second elongate bearing pads,said third elongate bearing pad also standing proud of the top surfaceand the bottom surface of the central portion of said flexible backingmember, the length dimension of said third elongate bearing pad beingintermediate the length dimensions of said first and second elongatebearing pads and the thickness dimension of said third elongate bearingpad being intermediate the thickness dimensions of said first and secondelongate bearing pads.
 21. A shoulder strap for carrying a bagcomprising: a shoulder pad adapted to conform to a person's shoulders; afirst elongate bearing pad attached to said shoulder pad along alongitudinal direction, said first elongate bearing pad standing proudof a bottom surface of said shoulder pad; and a second elongate bearingpad attached to said shoulder pad and arranged substantially parallel tosaid first elongate bearing pad, said second elongate bearing pad alsostanding proud of the bottom surface of said shoulder pad, said firstelongate bearing pad being longer and thicker than said second elongatebearing pad so that said shoulder pad conforms to a person's shoulderswithout sliding off.
 22. The shoulder strap of claim 21, wherein saidshoulder pad includes a plurality of slots disposed between said firstand second elongate bearing pads in order to allow said shoulder pad toflex.
 23. The shoulder strap of claim 22, further comprising a thirdelongate bearing pad attached to said shoulder pad intermediate saidfirst and second elongate bearing pads and arranged substantiallyparallel to said first and second elongate bearing pads, said thirdelongate bearing pad also standing proud of the bottom surface of saidshoulder pad, said third elongate bearing pad being longer and thickerthan said second elongate bearing pad but shorter and thinner than saidfirst elongate bearing pad.
 24. A shoulder strap for carrying a bagcomprising: a shoulder pad having first and second arms withlongitudinal axes diverging from a central apex at an obtuse angle, saidfirst and second arms having inner edges that form a substantiallyconcave inner edge, said first and second arms further having outeredges each including an apex with the apex of said first arm beingseparated from the apex of said second arm by a substantially concaveouter edge forming a shoulder bone cutout; a first end portion of saidshoulder strap having a longitudinal axis that diverges from thelongitudinal axis of said first arm at an obtuse angle, said first endportion having an inner edge that meets the inner edge of said first armat an apex adjacent a first end of said substantially concave inneredge; and a second end portion of said shoulder strap having alongitudinal axis that diverges from the longitudinal axis of saidsecond arm at an obtuse angle, said second end portion having an inneredge that meets the inner edge of said second arm at an apex adjacent asecond end of said substantially concave inner edge.
 25. The shoulderstrap of claim 24, further comprising: a chest pad attached to a bottomsurface of said shoulder pad proximal the first end portion of saidshoulder pad; and a back pad attached to the bottom surface of saidshoulder pad proximal the second end portion of said shoulder pad. 26.The shoulder strap of claim 24, further comprising a plurality ofelongate bearing pads attached to said shoulder pad along a longitudinaldirection and arranged substantially parallel to each other.
 27. Theshoulder strap of claim 26, wherein said elongate bearing pads vary inlength and thickness.
 28. The shoulder strap of claim 27, wherein saidelongate bearing pads stand proud of a bottom surface of said shoulderpad.
 29. The shoulder strap of claim 28, wherein said plurality ofelongate bearing pads comprises first, second and third elongate bearingpads.
 30. The shoulder strap of claim 29, wherein said first elongatebearing pad is longer and thicker than said second elongate bearing padand wherein said third elongate bearing pad is longer and thicker thansaid second elongate bearing pad but shorter and thinner than said firstelongate bearing pad so that said shoulder pad conforms to a person'sshoulders.